notin

And that’s ok. It’s easier to get two defensive CF types than to find another Dwight Evans. But, while I’m not on the “trade JBJ” bandwagon, it certainly is a realistic possibility, and that does likely mean someone else who is not a CF would take over RF. Fortunately, while your thought has an advantage, we have at least seen it isn’t a necessity. Because if Martinez moves back to the outfield, there might be a noticeable drop off in defense...

Scioscia is about as robotic as it gets for a manager...

The Sox did re-acquire Miller as part of the Burleson trade - the only trade that management made that wasn’t completely horrific. I’m surprised they didn’t trade Jim Rice for a backup catcher, now that I think about it...

2 pounds of cole slaw. The good stuff. No pineapple...

True, although Cater apparently did not work out, but at least he was a full time player and a respectable hitter. The deals that broke up those 1970's teams were simply atrocious. I know Don Zimmer wanted a few players gone like Lee and Jim Willoughby and a couple others, but honestly, was the best deal the Sox could get for Lee a utility infielder? We've all seen teams deal malcontent players before and get much better returns. The Cubs had one of the biggest headcases on the planet making premium money at the time in Milton Bradley, and even they got more than a utility infielder in return. Those late 1970's Red Sox teams unloaded Fisk, Lynn, Burleson, Willoughby, Reggie Cleveland, Butch Hobson, George Scott, and Bernie Carbo and in return the only starter they got back was Carney Lansford (although Mark Clear and Rick Miller were useful players, but were also acquired in the same deal as Lansford). And really given the number of players he had trouble controlling, why didn't anyone decide maybe Zimmer was the problem?

So where will he be working next April?

It might be the only way to inflate his trade value. Letting him play has done nothing for it...

The Lynn deal was so stupid. Who was that awful GM? "Hey' let's trade our 28 year old former MVP for a washed up cranky outfielder, a crappy minor league pitcher whose responsible for more hits than the Beatles, and what's left of Frank Tanana!! Too stupid? OK, we should throw in Steve Renko, who is actually the second best player in this deal. Now it makes sense!" What was the reason behind this deal? Did Lynn sleep with someone's wife or something? Did the Angels' GM take hostages and this was his ransom demand? Were GMs really this stupid back in the late 70s and early 80s? Or was it just ours? This one is almost as dumb as trading Bill Lee straight up for Stan Papi. When you look back at the series of incredibly lop-sided trades that broke up those 1970's teams, it is easy to understand why it took so long to win anything. The Sox weren't "cursed." They were just run by morons...

Travis? Really? Why on Earth would the Sox need Sam Travis?

I brought Evans in because when I think of best Sox outfields, Rice-Lynn-Evans is the first thing that jumps to mind. And I can see the advantages of having a CF in RF at Fenway. I just couldn't think of too many former CF's or players capable of playing CF who have played out there regularly. Betts and Victorino both did, but beyond that, I'm stumped. Usually, when someone makes a statement like that, they have someone in mind. If it was just Betts, I can see that. He's a great example. If Victorino was additional support, OK. But since those two don't encompass a ton of years out in RF, I figured you had someone in mind i was missing or played before my time...

Haven’t you ever read “Hichhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy”? To paraphrase, the universe will sort itself out, but the biggest issue with time travel is grammar. When it comes to altering timelines, Douglas Adams trumps Robert Zemeckis...

Stop being so defensive. Your point was the best Sox outfields have always had a RF capable of playing CF. Dwight Evans was a RF on what has to be considered one of, if not the best, outfields in this team's history, with Rice-Lynn-Evans. Hopefully you can agree Evans never established himself as a capable CF and his defensive abilities out there are at the very least, in question. Right? His defensive abilities in RF are without question - one of the best ever to play the position in MLB. So beyond this season where Betts has shown himself to be play RF and CF well above average, I wonder what other Sox outfields you are referring to. I am not so sure I can think of any other great Sox outfields where the RF was a even a capable CF, unless you were referring to Ramirez-Damon-Nixon, which was a good OF, but certainly no Rice-Lynn-Evans. Maybe Gomes/Nava-Ellsbury-Victorino? Certainly Victornio was an excellent CF before playing RF in Boston. But I would be very hesitant to rank taht among the best outfields on thjis team. Although they did win a ring, which shouldn''t be ignored. But I'm not really sure what outfields you were referring to...

In this alternate reality, did 2007 and 2013 not happen?

Ottavino was good, with the exception of giving a free-swinger a hittable pitch on an 0-2 count. I wouldn't fault him for giving up a SB to a track star. And he was nearly victimized by catcher's interference, which is not his fault, either. But he got out of the rest of that jam very well...

That's Three-Time Defending Annoying Little Brothers to you. Now get in the Wild Card back seat where you belong...

Why no "Body Parts" list on the Fun with Baseball Names thread?

And I have more faith in that happening than I have in getting a similar hot stretch from Hembree or Workman or Thornburg or Pomeranz or Cuevas or Johnson or (insert mediocre Sox reliever name here). The only issue with Kelly is the potential for a high ceiling also comes with potential for a low floor. But all of these relievers have potential for a low floor...

Yes, but also the 1st inning. The 8th inning shot (and his 9th inning game-winning HR against the Angels in game one of the 2008 ALDS) were his best clutch moments. But people really do like grand slams. And Drew is really remembered for nothing else, despite being an amazing post-season player for the Sox. As you might remember fro BDC, I have always been an ardent Drew supporter...

It is easier to look at the better team and see their advantages. But the Astros did lose 59 times this year, and if they run into a hot Kluber/Bauer/Carrasco (all well-rested after a long ago clinch), this could easily be a short October for them Kluber is 1-0 with a 1.35 ERA against the Astros in 2 starts and has been an outstanding post-season pitcher when not overworked. They may have to face him twice...

Technically, the Cubs/Brewers and Rockies/Dodgers games were regular season games, not playoffs. (This is a big deal, because neither were elimination games despite having considerable stakes.) There's only been one post-season game played so far this year...

I agree Armas was a weak CF, which was probably why Oakland never used him there. But just because Dewey was a better option doesn't mean Evans would have been a good CF. And really, the Rice-Lynn-Evans outfield (Lynn, not Armas) has to be among the best outfields in recent Sox history. In fact, other than Lewis-Speaker-Hooper and this current trio, what other Sox outfields are in the running?

It depends on who they go in place of. While Kelly has had his stryuggles, it's not like you can't say the same thing about a lot of pitchers in the Sox pen this year. Or is the idea that Kelly has struggled and was a disappointment, so the Sox need to take someone for whom we had lower expectations?

The point wasn't that Drew's slam wasn't important. But rather that his eighth inning 2 run home run to bring the score to 7-6 and his ninth inning game-winning hit were more important than that slam...

I have always felt that was his best post-season work, as opposed to the 2007 ALCS grand slam in a blow out game...

But it will always take a back seat to the Mets losing a 7 1/2 game lead with 17 games to play and, of course, the horrific collapse of the 2011 Red Sox. The 2006 Cardinals nearly added themselves to that list, but righted the ship at the very end and went on to win the World Series...